[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 199]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO STUDY METHODS OF ERADICATING ASIAN CARP FROM 
                       THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 6, 2009

  Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand here today to introduce 
legislation which provides for the exploration of methods to eradicate 
the dangerous Asian carp from the Great Lakes.
  Each year, invasive species in the Great Lakes cause more than $5 
billion in economic damage and irreparable harm to an ecosystem that 
provides more than 40 million people with jobs. water, food. and 
recreation. A new invader, the Asian carp, threatens to further destroy 
the region's ecosystem and economy, and it is imperative that we act to 
prevent this catastrophe.
  A single barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, built as a 
temporary demonstration project 5 years ago, is the only thing 
preventing these invaders from entering Lake Michigan and drastically 
altering the entire region's ecosystem. While Congress recently 
provided full authorization and funding for this critical barrier, it 
may not be enough to prevent the Asian carp from infiltrating the Great 
Lakes and the devastating consequences that would follow.
  It is therefore critical that we also explore alternatives and 
supplements to the carp barrier. My legislation would direct the Fish 
and Wildlife Service in conjunction with the National Atmospheric and 
Oceanic Administration and Great Lakes States to conduct a study on the 
feasibility of a variety of approaches to eradicating Asian carp from 
the Great Lakes. The legislation specifically directs the agencies to 
study the feasibility of temporarily harvesting Asian carp as a means 
to eradicate the invasive species in an environmentally responsible 
manner.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to explore all 
possibilities to effectively eliminate the threat that this dangerous 
species poses to our Nation's most precious natural resource.

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